Special Update March 2020

Welcome to this special update.  It is only days since we promoted so many exciting events for March and in that time, so much has changed due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This is to give you details of how QuiltNSW is responding in the short term and to advise of cancellations or postponements to previously advertised events. At this time, the Committee has put in place arrangements to the end of April and for our General Meeting in May. We will monitor the situation as it unfolds and continue to change our plans in response. The Committee has considered very carefully the health and wellbeing of volunteers and members in making decisions about what should continue at this time.  We have agreed that everyone's health and wellbeing should be our primary focus.  For that reason, the Committee has determined that the office will be closed to members and office volunteers until the end of April.  We understand that this will cause service disruption to members and for this we apologise. However, we ask for your understanding in the circumstances. The Committee has also decided that it is not prudent to host gatherings of members in the short-term, particularly large gatherings.  Some events will be cancelled while others, wherever possible, will be rescheduled to later in the year.  The first to be postponed is the 'away meeting' that was to be hosted next weekend by the Novocastrian Quilters - a new date will be planned. For March and April, we won't be hosting Friday Showcase, Community Quilts, Appraisals or Pop Up Sewing Days. In these uncertain times, there are likely to be further event postponements and cancellations.  We will communicate with members regularly and as accurately as we can.  Special email updates will be sent to members when we have news to share, so I encourage you to read and share this news with members who might not have access to email.  We will also use Instagram and Facebook and endeavour to keep the calendar and QuiltNSW website up to date. Your may be wondering whether the 2020 Sydney Quilt Show will go ahead?  The Committee is in close contact with Expertise Events, organiser of the overall event, and as soon as there is information to share, we will let you know. Member groups who wish to use these special updates to communicate changes to their forthcoming exhibitions or events, should please send details to Andrea Beattie. You can also get in contact with Mandie Tyler. Take care, Mandie Tyler, President Read on for details Member events and meetings - changes to dates   Novocastrian Quilters were to host the the Away meeting on Saturday 21 March. This meeting will be rescheduled to later in the year.  The new date will be advised when it is confirmed. QuiltNSW Office - closed until end of April. The QuiltNSW office in Pitt Street Sydney, normally staffed Monday - Friday, will not re-open until the end of April. We understand that this will cause some disruption to services, however the decision has been taken in the interests of the health and wellbeing of our volunteers.  If you need to contact the office, you can email office@quiltnsw.com or you can call on 02 92833733  and leave a message.  Emails and telephone messages will be checked regularly and responded to. The library will not be able to be used during this time. If you have books on loan, please hold on to them until the office re-opens or someone contacts you to return them. Quilt appraisals will also not take place. The next scheduled appraisal day was 10 April. This has been cancelled. General meeting, Saturday 16 May - cancelled. Our next general meeting was to be held in mid-May. We know that some members travel to attend and make arrangements in advance. It is a large gathering in normal circumstances, and therefore unlikely to be able to go ahead in the current environment, hence this early cancellation notice. Community Quilts - Saturday 28 March - cancelled. Jenny Haynes Trunk Show - Friday 27 March, Powerhouse Museum and workshops with Jenny Haynes - Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 March, Powerhouse Museum. At this time we are not able to provide information about these events. Further information will be available soon. Quilt and textile exhibitions - changes to dates Australasian Quilt Convention - Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne - postponed to 20-23 August. 'My World of Colour in Pathwork & Quilting' Exhibition - Moran Gallery, Sylvania - closed.Life Member, Lynn Hewitt has advised that her solo exhibition at Moran Gallery, with dates from 12 February to 5 April is closed until further notice due to the health risk to residents of the nursing home adjacent to the gallery. Sydney Royal Easter Show - cancelled. The organisers of the Sydney Royal Easter Show have cancelled this year's event. Any members who were participating as exhibitors will be contacted directly by Show organisers.